By KUNLE AWOSIYAN
WBC boxing heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, is not getting any praise ahead of his undisputed championship belt against the unified champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
To many of his fans, his last fight with Francis Ngannou was not impressive even though he won via unanimous decision. He has to win his fight against Usyk to redeem his image.
Fury sees the match against Usyk as a mismatch, yet a crucial bout to keep his unbeaten record. If he wins, the world will say he fought a boxer of smaller size to become the undisputed champion.
If he loses, the internet will be agog with stories of a fallen “Goliath against a David”. This is the dilemma of Fury.
His case is more or less like that of Evander Holyfield and a giant, Nikolai Valuev in 2008. Holyfield was 46, a more tactical, athletic and durable boxer but with small size. Valuev is slow, a giant with less tactics. It was a mismatch.
To beat Usyk, Fury must be ready to chase the Ukrainian for 36 minutes. This he can do. But can he land a blow on the cat and how many can he land in 12 rounds?
At the end of 12 rounds, Holyfield lost the match but won the crowd. His performance, despite his smaller size against a giant was what he needed to win the hearts of the spectators.
Valuev won via a contested split decision that stopped Holyfield from becoming a five-time Heavyweight champion. Valuev knew from the onset that he would not be able to outsmart Holyfield. The giant went for the kill, throwing the punches blindly perhaps one of it would catch Holyfield. Valuev’s idea worked because Holyfield was standing in front of him instead of running away.
On February 17, Fury will be chasing a record to become the next undisputed champion in over 20 years.
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Fury will be in Valuev’s shoes but against a more tactical and slippery Usyk. Of course, the Gypsy King will raise his game. He has the capacity to do so against any opponent but in the fight against Usyk, I will advise that the Briton goes for the kill from round one.
Fury should throw all blows like a wounded lion or an angry dog against the Cat, Usyk. This is because he cannot outbox the Cat.
No dog can outpunch a cat in a friendly game but an angry dog can kill a cat in a minute. If Fury goes with the mentality of tactics, he is losing the fight, however a furious Fury will devour the cat.
Like a real cat, Usyk is very good in counter, which he will do favourably against a playful dog. However, the cat won’t have any chance against an angry dog, it may end up as another prey.
If Fury wins, he will be retaining the title in Britain, taking after his compatriot, the legendary Lennox Lewis who stopped fighting in 2003.
To beat Usyk, Fury must be ready to chase the Ukrainian for 36 minutes. This he can do. But can he land a blow on the cat and how many can he land in 12 rounds?
These are the questions and the challenges that have put Fury in serious dilemma. Fury’s slap alone can throw down Usyk but to land the slap is the real issue with Fury.
For the Gypsy King to win this match, he must be ready to fight like an angry dog against the cat. Playing with the cat as he did against Ngannou will be his undoing.
Like a real cat, Usyk is very good in counter, which he will do favourably against a playful dog. However, the cat won’t have any chance against an angry dog, it may end up as another prey.
